Introduction to PDF Files

With the advent of PDF files, electronic storage has become extensively used and has proven to be highly advantageous. There are widespread options that can be employed when one has to reduce PDF file size  some fundamental options in the hands of the user, and some professional, with the aid of plenty software means that exercise a variety of algorithms and methods.

How to Reduce PDF File Size

There are basically 2 types of PDF file compressions, lossy and lossless. These two, with their obvious meanings, comprise of many down sampling methodologies. Lossy methods take liberties and may reduce, sacrifice the information content when PDF files are compressed, whereas lossless methods, being superior, hold on to the data, not degrading its standards. The essential steps to be taken by a user to reduce PDF file size are as follows. Using the save-as option rather than save, helps in condensing the file size without any additions to the file. Save-as naturally optimizes the file. The user can bring about changes in the file, by avoiding or altering unnecessary content, pictures, graphics and fonts. Small file size picture formats can be used, like JPEG, ZIP, and JBIG2 (for monochrome images). The user may substitute black and white images wherever possible, use low resolution graphics if acceptable, and so on. Some algorithms utilized by the many software technologies to reduce PDF file size are Flate algorithm (RunLength compression algorithm), ZIP compression, RLE compression, LZW compression, CCITT compression. Each one specializes in a particular format that is to be compressed, without compromise. The efficiency of a compressed PDF file can be determined, if enhanced or degraded, by using an OCR recognition system which validates the data recognition rate.

The Reasons to Reduce PDF File Size

The advantages of reduced PDF files are two fold. One is that PDF by itself is the most economically easy-to-reduce format, it being universally viewable and easily text searchable compared to other formats like TIFF, JPEG, etc. Secondly, by compressing PDF files, the transportability, transferability, and transparency of the PDF files are made better, hence saving money and time.